Table of contents
Key takeaways
Quick comparison
What is patch management software
Why patch management matters in 2026
Key features to look for
How we evaluated these tools
The tools
Shortlists by buyer
Pricing models
Frequently asked questions
Choosing a tool
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Software vulnerabilities are being disclosed at a record pace. The CVE Program published 48,244 CVE records in 2025, up from 40,077 in 2024, an increase of about 20 percent year over year. CISA added 245 entries to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog during 2025, 29 of which are linked to ransomware campaigns, so a meaningful share of new flaws are being exploited in the wild rather than sitting dormant.
Patch management software reduces that exposure by automating how updates are detected, tested and deployed across an IT environment. This guide explains what patch management software does, the features that matter in 2026, how the leading tools compare, and which tool fits which kind of buyer.
Acronis ships two distinct offerings, and they are easy to confuse: Acronis Cyber Protect is the on-premises and hybrid platform for corporate and enterprise IT teams, and Acronis RMM is the remote monitoring and management module inside Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, built for managed service providers (MSPs). Both are covered below.
Key takeaways
- There is no single best tool. The right choice depends on your operating-system mix, whether you are an internal IT team or an MSP, and whether patching is a standalone need or one part of a broader security and backup stack.
- For scannable buyers, the comparison table below covers operating-system coverage, deployment model, third-party application patching, pre-patch rollback and indicative pricing.
- Windows-heavy teams, mixed-OS enterprises and MSPs each have different priorities, so this guide includes a short shortlist for each.
- A key differentiator for Acronis is consolidation: patching sits in the same agent and console as backup, recovery and endpoint security, which can reduce tool sprawl and agent overhead.
Quick comparison
Tool
Best for
OS coverage
Deployment
Third-party patching
Pre-patch rollback
Indicative starting price
Acronis RMM
MSPs wanting patching inside integrated cyber protection
Windows
Cloud (Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud)
Broad, Windows
Yes, pre-patch backup
MSP volume, contact vendor
Acronis Cyber Protect
Internal IT wanting unified backup, security and patching
Windows patching; macOS, Linux VA and backup
On-premises or hybrid
Broad, Windows
Yes, pre-patch backup
Per-workload, contact vendor
Action1
Cloud-native patching with a free entry tier
Windows, macOS, Linux
Cloud agent
Broad
No native rollback
Free up to 200 endpoints, then custom
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus
Broad multi-OS third-party coverage
Windows, macOS, Linux
Cloud or on-premises
Extensive
No native rollback
From about $795 per year (50 endpoints)
NinjaOne
RMM with automated patching
Windows, macOS, Linux
Cloud agent
Broad
Via separate backup module
Per-endpoint, custom quote
PDQ Connect
Focused Windows and macOS patching
Windows, macOS
Cloud agent
Focused core apps
No native rollback
From about $12 per device per year
SolarWinds Patch Manager
WSUS and Configuration Manager environments
Windows
On-premises, WSUS or ConfigMgr extension
Extended WSUS packages
Via WSUS or server snapshots
Custom quote
ConnectWise RMM
MSPs in the ConnectWise ecosystem
Windows, macOS, Linux
Cloud RMM
Large catalog
Via platform integration
Custom quote
Tenable Patch Management
Vulnerability-to-patch remediation
Windows, macOS, Linux
Cloud agent
Broad
Rollback controls
Custom quote
Automox
Lightweight cross-platform automation
Windows, macOS, Linux
Cloud agent
Broad
Via scripted Worklets
From about $1 per device per month
Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch
Microsoft-centric Windows fleets
Windows, macOS
Cloud
Limited native third-party
Via configuration and recovery tooling
Included in eligible Microsoft licensing
Patch My PC
Extending Intune and Configuration Manager
Windows, macOS via Intune
Intune or ConfigMgr extension
Broad Windows
Leverages Intune, ConfigMgr
From about $2 per endpoint per year
Atera
Small IT teams on per-technician billing
Windows, macOS, Linux
Cloud RMM
Core apps
No native rollback
From about $129 per technician per month
Pricing is indicative and drawn from vendor-stated starting points. Verify current pricing, minimum-seat terms and free-tier limits directly with each vendor before publishing or purchasing, since these change frequently.
What is patch management software
Patch management software is a centralized platform that automates the lifecycle of software updates across computers, servers and other endpoints: detection, acquisition, testing and deployment. Instead of installing updates device by device, these tools scan your inventory, identify missing fixes, download the required packages and deploy them under defined policies, usually during scheduled maintenance windows.
It helps to separate three related categories that often get bundled together:
- Patch management identifies and deploys vendor updates for operating systems and applications.
- Software deployment distributes applications and custom packages, whether or not they are updates.
- Vulnerability management identifies, prioritizes and tracks exposure, then feeds remediation.
Some products do one of these well. Others, including full RMM platforms and integrated cyber protection suites, combine several. Knowing which category you are buying prevents mismatched expectations.
Why patch management matters in 2026
Unpatched systems remain a primary entry point for ransomware operators and other attackers. CISA recommends that organizations use its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog as an input to prioritization and remediate listed vulnerabilities promptly. Its binding deadlines apply to U.S. federal civilian agencies, and its broader prioritization guidance applies to other organizations as recommended practice.
Regulatory context adds pressure. Frameworks such as HIPAA and PCI DSS expect organizations to remediate known vulnerabilities in a timely way, though the specific applicability and wording differ by framework, so treat compliance requirements as framework-specific rather than uniform.
Two operational shifts make native, vendor-side vulnerability intelligence more important than it was a year ago:
The volume problem. CVE submissions grew 263 percent between 2020 and 2025 That growth has outpaced the enrichment capacity of the public National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
The NVD prioritization change. On April 15, 2026, NIST changed how the NVD operates. It moved backlogged CVEs published before March 1, 2026, into a “Not Scheduled” status and now prioritizes enrichment for CISA KEV entries, federal software and critical software, categorizing other new records as lowest priority for immediate enrichment. In practice, security teams can no longer assume that every new CVE will carry timely, fully enriched NVD scoring. That raises the value of patch-management tools that maintain their own patch catalog and vulnerability data, so patch detection does not stall when NVD enrichment lags.
Key features to look for
When evaluating tools, prioritize the capabilities that reduce risk and manual effort:
- Multi-OS support. In mixed environments, patching Windows, macOS and Linux from one console matters. Confirm coverage for both servers and endpoints, not just desktops.
- Third-party application patching. Operating-system updates are only part of the job. Browsers, Java, PDF readers and productivity suites need patching too. Coverage varies widely, so check the actual catalog, and be aware that vendors count supported applications differently.
- Automation and scheduling. Look for policy-based approvals, maintenance windows, reboot control, user deferrals and zero-touch deployment.
- Testing and staged rollout. Update rings and pilot groups let you validate patches on a small set of devices before a fleet-wide rollout.
- Vulnerability assessment integration. Tools that scan for missing patches and prioritize by severity, often using CVSS scores, give patching useful context.
- Rollback and fail-safe mechanisms. Some tools create a restore point before patching so you can recover quickly if an update destabilizes a system. Acronis RMM automatically creates an image backup before deployment for this reason.
- Reporting and compliance. Dashboards should surface patch success rates, endpoint compliance and outstanding vulnerabilities in a form auditors accept.
- Off-network operation. For remote and hybrid workforces, confirm whether the tool can patch endpoints that are off the corporate network without a VPN.
- Deployment model. Cloud platforms simplify multi-tenant and distributed management. On-premises options such as WSUS or Configuration Manager suit strict data-residency needs.
- Cost and scalability. Compare per-endpoint, per-technician and subscription models against your growth plans, and check free-tier thresholds and minimum-seat terms.
How we evaluated these tools
This guide draws on official vendor product pages and documentation, current CVE, NIST and CISA primary sources, and practitioner discussion of real operational trade-offs. Facts were verified against official sources on the review date shown at the top of the page. Where a vendor states a performance figure or a supported-application count, it is treated as a vendor claim rather than an independent measurement. Pricing reflects public, vendor-stated starting points at the time of review and should be reconfirmed before purchase. Products were selected to reflect the tools most often shortlisted for Windows, enterprise and MSP patch-management decisions in 2026.
The tools
Each profile below leads with who the tool suits and where it falls short, so you can shortlist quickly.
Acronis RMM
Best for: MSPs that want patching, monitoring and recovery in one agent and console.
Standout: Patching sits inside Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud alongside backup, disaster recovery and PSA, with a proprietary patching engine that does not rely on open-o a bad update can be rolled back.
Limitation: Native patching is currently Windows-only, so shops with significant macOS or Linux fleets will need to combine it with other tooling
Acronis RMM automates vulnerability assessment, prioritizes by severity using CVSS scores and covers more than 320 third-party Windows applications
Acronis Cyber Protect
Best for: Internal IT teams that want to consolidate backup, security and patching into a single platform, including multi-site and industrial environments.
Standout: Full-image backup, anti-malware, vulnerability assessment and patching from one console, with fail-safe patching that captures a backup before updates so you can roll back quickly.
Limitation: The breadth of the platform means a learning curve, and premium pricing can exceed a single-purpose tool.
Acronis Cyber Protect provides vulnerability assessment that prioritizes by severity using CVSS scores across Windows, macOS and Linux, plus patch management for Windows and a broad catalog of third-party Windows applications, managed from a central console for distributed enterprises.
Action1
Best for: Teams wanting cloud-native patching with a genuine free entry tier.
Standout: Off-network patching without a VPN, peer-to-peer distribution, update rings and broad third-party coverage, with a free tier for the first 200 endpoints.
Limitation: No native pre-patch rollback, and per-endpoint cost scales up beyond the free threshold.
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus
Best for: Heterogeneous environments needing broad OS and third-party coverage with a choice of cloud or on-premises.
Standout: An extensive third-party application catalog, flexible testing and approval workflows, and integration across the ManageEngine suite.
Limitation: The interface can be complex for new users, and separate agents may add overhead compared with unified platforms.
NinjaOne
Best for: MSPs and IT teams that want an easy-to-use RMM with automated patching built in.
Standout: Automated scanning and deployment across Windows, macOS and Linux, granular reboot control and a strong monitoring and scripting engine.
Limitation: Rollback depends on a separate backup module, and reporting is shallower than dedicated enterprise tools.
PDQ Connect
Best for: Windows and macOS shops wanting simple, focused patching.
Standout: Direct, practitioner-oriented workflows, CVE prioritization and software deployment, with transparent pricing.
Limitation: No integrated backup or broader RMM, and coverage is focused on core applications rather than a large catalog.
SolarWinds Patch Manager
Best for: Windows environments already standardized on WSUS or Configuration Manager.
Standout: Extends WSUS and ConfigMgr with third-party packages, approval and scheduling controls, reboot behavior and reporting.
Limitation: Windows-centric, and tied to the Microsoft update infrastructure it extends.
ConnectWise RMM
Best for: MSPs operating inside the ConnectWise ecosystem.
Standout: RMM-native policy automation, a large third-party catalog and patch history reporting.
Limitation: Most valuable when you are already committed to the ConnectWise platform. Verify the current third-party catalog count, since ConnectWise pages have quoted different figures.
Tenable Patch Management
Best for: Teams that want to connect vulnerability findings directly to remediation.
Standout: Correlates vulnerability data with patch actions, with scheduling, pause controls and handling for risky updates.
Limitation: Strongest as part of a vulnerability-management program rather than as a lightweight standalone patcher.
Automox
Best for: Distributed teams wanting lightweight, policy-driven automation across platforms.
Standout: Cloud-native agent, real-time visibility and cross-platform automation with broad third-party support.
Limitation: Narrower feature set than a full RMM, and rollback depends on scripted Worklets rather than a native engine.
Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch
Best for: Microsoft-centric organizations already invested in Microsoft 365 and Entra ID.
Standout: Windows Update for Business, Windows Autopatch and Configuration Manager coexistence, with no extra agent on Windows devices.
Limitation: Limited native third-party application patching, which many teams fill with a companion tool such as Patch My PC.
Patch My PC
Best for: Teams extending Intune or Configuration Manager to cover third-party Windows applications.
Standout: Packaging, third-party updates and Windows-focused workflows that plug into existing Microsoft infrastructure, with pre-installation and post-installation scripting.
Limitation: Depends on Intune or ConfigMgr, so it complements rather than replaces a management platform.
Atera
Best for: Small IT teams and MSPs that prefer per-technician billing.
Standout: Cloud-native RMM with patching, help desk, remote access and automation under a per-technician model.
Limitation: Patching is less advanced than dedicated tools, and third-party coverage focuses on core applications.
Shortlists by buyer
Best for Windows fleets: Acronis RMM, Action1, PDQ Connect, Patch My PC, ManageEngine, SolarWinds Patch Manager. Prioritize WSUS, Configuration Manager and Intune coexistence, third-party Windows coverage, reboot and deferral controls, and off-network patching.
Best for enterprises: Action1, Tenable, ManageEngine, NinjaOne, Ivanti Neurons for Patch Management, and Acronis Cyber Protect Enterprise for teams consolidating backup and security. Prioritize update rings, role-based access, SSO, APIs, bandwidth distribution and audit-grade reporting.
Best for MSPs:Acronis RMM, NinjaOne, ConnectWise RMM, Atera. Prioritize multi-tenancy, per-client policy, PSA integration, client-facing compliance reports and the licensing model that matches your margin.
Pricing models
Patch management is licensed several ways, and the model matters as much as the headline price:
- Per device or endpoint: PDQ Connect starts at about $12 per device per year, Automox from about $1 per device per month and Patch My PC from about $2 per endpoint per year.
- Per technician: Atera starts from about $129 per technician per month, which suits small teams managing many endpoints.
- Free or freemium tiers: Action1 is free for the first 200 endpoints, useful for small fleets or a proof of concept.
- Volume or bundled: Acronis RMM is licensed through Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud on MSP volume terms. Consolidating backup, vulnerability assessment and patching into one agent can lower total cost of ownership compared with buying three tools.
Confirm all figures with the vendor before purchase, since prices, minimum-seat terms and free-tier limits change.
Frequently asked questions
What is patch management software?
A centralized tool that automates the identification, acquisition, testing and deployment of software updates, keeping systems secure and compliant while reducing manual effort.
What is the best patch management software for Windows?
There is no universal answer. Action1, PDQ Connect and Patch My PC suit focused Windows patching, SolarWinds and Microsoft Intune suit teams built around WSUS, Configuration Manager or Intune, and Acronis RMM suits MSPs that want Windows patching inside integrated cyber protection.
What is the best patch management tool for MSPs?
Look for multi-tenancy, per-client policy and PSA integration. Acronis RMM, NinjaOne, ConnectWise RMM and Atera are common shortlists, with Acronis RMM standing out where backup and recovery are part of the service.
What is the difference between patch management and vulnerability management?
Patch management identifies and deploys updates. Vulnerability management identifies and prioritizes exposure across an environment, then feeds remediation. Some platforms, including Tenable and Acronis, connect the two.
Can Microsoft Intune patch third-party applications?
Intune has limited native third-party patching. Many teams pair it with a companion tool such as Patch My PC for broader application coverage.
Can patch management software update devices that are off the corporate network?
Some cloud-native tools, including Action1, patch endpoints that are off the corporate network without a VPN. Confirm this for any tool if you support remote or hybrid staff.
How should patches be tested before enterprise deployment?
Use update rings and pilot groups to validate patches on a small set of devices during a defined maintenance window before a fleet-wide rollout.
How do patch management tools handle failed updates?
Approaches vary. Some tools rely on maintenance windows and staged deployment, while others, such as Acronis, create an image backup before patching so you can roll back quickly if an update destabilizes a system.
Are there free patch management tools?
Yes. WSUS is free for Windows, ManageEngine offers a free edition for small environments, and Action1 is free for the first 200 endpoints. Free tools may require more manual maintenance or cap endpoints.
Why is patch management important in cybersecurity?
Unpatched systems are a primary entry point for attackers. With CISA adding 245 vulnerabilities to its KEV catalog in 2025, timely patching is central to preventing ransomware and meeting compliance obligations.
Choosing a tool
Timely patching is essential to a secure, resilient IT environment, and the volume of new vulnerabilities and the NVD enrichment changes of 2026 make automation and native vulnerability intelligence more valuable than ever. The tools above range from focused Windows utilities to full cyber protection suites. Acronis Cyber Protect integrates patching with backup, anti-malware and vulnerability assessment for corporate IT, while Acronis RMM delivers Windows patching inside Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud for MSPs. Match the tool to your operating-system mix, your team model and whether patching is a standalone need or one part of a broader security and recovery stack.
- Corporate and enterprise IT: Try Acronis Cyber Protect for integrated patching, backup and security.
- MSPs: Explore Acronis RMM as part of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud.
A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 60+ countries. Acronis Cyber Platform is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 21,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses.
